Hayfield Withdraws From Football Playoffs Amid Recruiting Scandal

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Hayfield Secondary School has withdrawn its football team from the playoffs after text messages came to light that the school’s athletic director was engaging in a scheme to recruit players from outside the school district, according to reports.

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced that she had asked Hayfield’s principal to withdraw the football team from further postseason play, according to an email sent to Fairfax County Public Schools families on Monday night.

“Last week, several new and troubling text messages were brought to light and are now part of the ongoing review regarding Hayfield Secondary School recruiting concerns,” Reid said. “FCPS can only act on the information that it has, and these messages brought new concerns to the initial investigation.

Related: Playoff Games Decision Made By Football Coaches Who Mulled Forfeits

“Human resources staff and internal and external counsel reviewed this new evidence, investigated further, and finally concluded that they provided evidence of potential impropriety. Today, I shared summary information about the inquiry and the outcome of the inquiry with School Board members," Reid said.

The superintendent's email was the latest turn of events involving Hayfield athletic director Monty Fritts, who hired football coach Darryl Overton from Freedom High School in Woodbridge, as well as allegations of improperly recruiting players from outside the district, according to reports by The Fairfax Times. Fritts resigned when his texts came to light on Monday.

Over the summer, Fairfax County Public Schools conducted an internal investigation that cleared Hayfield from accusations that Overton had bullied students and recruited players from his former school.

However, the Virginia High School League conducted its own investigation and determined that 31 Woodbridge students transferred to Hayfield in order to play for Overton, which led to the two-season ban, according to the Fairfax Times.

Related: 6 Fairfax Coaches May Forfeit Football Playoff Games In Protest

But, when a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge issued an injunction on Nov. 15 in response to a lawsuit filed by Hayfield parents, the Hawks were cleared to play in the first round of the Class 6 Region C playoffs.

This prompted six Fairfax football coaches to send a letter of protest to Reid saying they were considering withdrawing from the playoffs, saying “this course of action is necessary to uphold the principles of fairness and accountability that we are entrusted to teach.”

In addition, City of Fairfax School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches to call on FCPS to conducting a “comprehensive, unbiased investigation.”

After meeting with the coaches and principals from all the schools involved, Reid announced plans to implement:

1. A comprehensive and independent external investigation and review of all student athlete transfers and eligibility practices across all sports and in all of the system's high schools.
2. A review and revision, where necessary, to FCPS athletic protocols and procedures. Led by the Office of Student Activities and Athletics programs, and in partnership with coaches and administrators, this will include a division-wide review of current practices in evaluating student athlete transfers both inside and outside the division.

Reid also pledged to host two community conversations for schools in Class 6 Region C and one for schools in Class 6 Region D, addressing athletic regulations and practices. She planned to work with VSHL on improving policies and processes regarding student-athlete eligibility.

Even with those steps taken, Hayfield’s football team remained the number one seed in the Class 6 Region C playoffs, defeating Edison High School last Thursday, 75-7.

Please read my Joint Statement with Ricardy Anderson and Ryan McElveen on the Hayfield football situation. pic.twitter.com/FmFDezf055
— Mateo Dunne (@MateoDunne) November 25, 2024

On Monday, Fairfax County School Board members Ricardy Anderson, Ryan McElveen and Mateo Dunne issued a joint statement agreeing with Pitches’ assertion that the football playoff turmoil could have been avoided if an impartial investigation was conducted early in the season.

“Moving forward, we will continue to advocate for a comprehensive and independent investigation,” the school board members wrote, to include but not be limited to:

• The involuntary reassignment of FCPS employees;
• The alleged recruitment of football players from other schools;
• The transfer of football players from other schools;
• The residency and eligibility of the football players concerned;
• Cyberbullying and social media policy violations;
• The conduct of the internal investigation from June to August 2024; and
• The handling of this matter by FCPS leadership since February 2024.”

Anderson, McElveen and Dunne also called on the school board to select an outside law firm without any existing relationship to the school, FCPS or Reid.

On Nov. 21, The Fairfax Times reported the City of Fairfax School Board voted to fire local attorney John Cafferky and his law firm, Blankingship & Keith, as the board’s legal counsel. This decision was made because Cafferky and the law firm had a conflict of interest in the Hayfield recruiting scandal.

“The outside law firm should have free rein to examine relevant data and documentation, interview relevant parties and personnel, and make appropriate recommendations to the School Board,” the three school board members wrote. “There should be no restrictions on the scope of the investigation and recommendations. In addition, the School Board should commit to publishing the findings of the investigation and to expedite the implementation of recommendations.”

Anderson, McElveen and Dunne also stressed that the ongoing Fairfax County Circuit Court Case was not the equivalent or substitute of an independent outside review. Neither was a “narrowly circumscribed” investigation, like the one conducted by FCPS last summer, nor an audit by the Office of the Auditor General.

The following is the full text of Dr. Michelle Reid’s email that was sent on Monday night.

Dear FCPS Families,
I am writing to share a significant update on the current actions regarding our high school athletic programs. This evening, the principal of Hayfield Secondary School announced the difficult decision to withdraw the football team from further postseason play. I have asked Tom Horn, Executive Director, Activities and Student Athletics, to work with VHSL to take any and all appropriate next steps.

Last week, several new and troubling text messages were brought to light and are now part of the ongoing review regarding Hayfield Secondary School recruiting concerns. FCPS can only act on the information that it has, and these messages brought new concerns to the initial investigation.

Human resources staff and internal and external counsel reviewed this new evidence, investigated further, and finally concluded that they provided evidence of potential impropriety. Today, I shared summary information about the inquiry and the outcome of the inquiry with School Board members.

Yesterday, I announced FCPS’ plans to begin a comprehensive external, independent review of FCPS’ student-athlete transfer and eligibility practices across all sports and all high schools in the Division. More information can be found on the FCPS website.

The work ahead is critical. We will focus on our students and will ensure a process that never puts us in this situation again. This work matters.

Warmest regards,
Michelle C. Reid
Dr. Michelle C. Reid
Superintendent